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A recent Jeep class action lawsuit claims that Wrangler and Gladiator vehicles are subject to a “death wobble” defect when moving at highway speeds.
Plaintiff Melinda Martinez states that 2018 to 2020 Jeep Wrangler and 2020 Jeep Gladiator vehicles are affected by the defect.
According to the Jeep class action lawsuit, the death wobble stems from a defective solid front axle and damping system.
These components were reportedly designed or manufactured in a defective way, causing the steering wheel to “shake violently” after encountering normal highway speeds.
This “death wobble” allegedly causes the affected vehicles to uncontrollably shake from side to side. Reportedly, the defect is associated with significant risks that make the vehicles unsafe.
The plaintiff argues the affected vehicles are difficult to steer and control, “presenting a safety risk to the occupants and others on the road.”
Martinez allegedly experienced the issue in her 2018 Jeep Wrangler. When she was driving with her child on a freeway overpass, her vehicle started to shake uncontrollably. The shaking was reportedly so severe that Martinez feared she would lose control of her vehicle. The Jeep Wrangler class action claims that she was “absolutely terrified, fearing for her safety and the safety of her child.”
After experiencing the issue, Martinez says she brought her vehicle to a local dealership in January 2020, and explained her frightening experience. In response to her concerns, the dealership employee allegedly laughed and explained to her that the issue is commonly called the “death shake” but that “it happens.” Martinez says she was offered repairs but it did not resolve the issue. Allegedly, the “death wobble” continues to plague her vehicle.
Martinez claims that Jeep manufacturer Fiat Chrysler knew or should have known the vehicles were prone to the “death wobble” defect. According to the Jeep class action lawsuit, the company was aware of the defect for more than a decade. In 2019, following “thousands of steering-related complaints,” Fiat Chrysler reportedly acknowledged the defect but failed to offer effective repairs for the issue.
“Rather than address this defective condition—or disclose its possibility and/or warn drivers at the point of sale — [Fiat Chrysler] claims the ‘Death Wobble’ is not a ‘safety issue’ and that it ‘can happen with any vehicle that has a solid front axle (rather than an independent front suspension), such as the Wrangler,’” the Jeep class action lawsuit claims.
“This strategically allows Defendant to continue its failed repair efforts until the warranty expires and the problem rests exclusively with the owner.”
Martinez seeks to represent a Class of consumers who purchased or leased a 2018 to 2020 Jeep Wrangler or 2020 Jeep Gladiator vehicle. She also seeks to represent a subclass of the same consumers from California.
Did you experience the “death wobble” on your Jeep vehicle? Share your experiences in the comments section below.
Martinez and the proposed Class are represented by Christopher D. Moon and Kevin O. Moon of Moon Law APC.
The Jeep Death Wobble Class Action Lawsuit is Martinez v. FCA US LLC, Case No. 5:20-cv-00463, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
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109 thoughts onJeep Class Action Claims Dangerous ‘Death Wobble’
Make no mistake about the (death wobble). If is a very very dangerous condition, it needs immediate attention . Please have front end specialists look over your wrangler before something catastrophic happens. FCA with do nothing to help you they care about profits not your safety
Track bar from factory isn’t durable enough to with stand the stress put upon the axle. It is a hollow track bar. The bushing inside of the track bar wares and allows play in axle The fix… install an after market heavy duty solid track bar. This prevents the axle from shifting. Steering damper is just a shock absorber for steering column a waste of time installing ..this wobble is very bad and stressful upon the other parts in the front end like tie rod ends . control arms etc. tack it to a front end specialist who deals in this stuff. Keep your receipts
They currently have my 2019 Jeep Wrangler for this reason and are not communicating. Then referred to the diagnosis as the death wobble and the. Asked me to pick up my car while the part they need is on back order… hmmm…
Need to be included in this. Been Wrangler owner over 25 yrs, all different years, had this problem on 2009 model as well as 2018 (2015 was a great model). Went through all the “fixes” recommended by Chrysler before taking to arbitration (steering damper replacements, tires rotated .5 degrees from factory, blah, blah, blah) After final “fix” and according to arbitration my paperwork, it says “problem cannot be fixed”. Arbitration reviewed all submitted documents. Final word was “owner didn’t try enough to fix the issue”. Again, after final dealer said problem wasn’t able to fixed.
Currently fighting with my dealership and the FCA. 2018 JL 4door sport. The falsified papers after having my Jeep for a month and saying they fixed it and I veered off off 95 on my way to worksheet next day. Went to the dealership and they stated they didn’t really fix it and the part is on back order 6+ months.
I have a 2019 Jeep Wrangler Sport. I have taken it in to the Jeep dealership and they do a “visual inspection” and then add 0.25oz weights. I have contacted FCA, they say “too bad so sad”… I sighted the known law suits and the how this has impacted me. I spent $45000 on a car that has had more problems. I am trying to figure out if someone can help me other than FCA advocate for my car to be bought back so I can go somewhere else.
Oh and that doesn’t include 7 days after I bought it, the brake line had a leak and my brakes went out…..Brand new car!
I too am having same issues.FCA seems to “read” a scripted response to all my questions and concerns. My 2018 Jeep Wrangler experiences the DEATH WOBBLE and I am in fear of my life and innocent drivers around me. The dealership can not correct the problem and I also feel they are putting me off until my warranty expires. I have no alternative but to consult legal assistant.
Have front end inspected by a reliable front in specialist usually the wobble will affect other parts of steering as well you could lose steering if one of these components breaks or fails. Not worth your life. FCA doesn’t care …Keep receipts
I have a 2019 Jeep Wrangler JL sport. Brand new off the lot and 6 months later jeep wobble. they replaced the steering damper and not once again jeep wobble. I have to wait on part they say back ordered and they give me no loaner car in the mean time. I would like to be involved in the class action lawsuit.
I hate to see that so many others experience the same.
I bought my 2014 Jeep Wrangler Sahara back in mid-2019. I first experienced the death wobble about a week after purchasing it.
Once I learned what caused it, I got an alignment and assumed it wouldn’t for some time.
Then on a road trip, only a few weeks later, with my friend driving at this point, he hit a bump as we were on the highway, and the wobble picked up. Luckily I briefed him on the experience prior so he knew what to do. But it shook him up, no surprise.
Over the last three months, the wobble has happened at least five times. Multiple on the highway, and I was fortunate each time to be able to get to the side of the highway to get it to stop.
Now I’m at the point of wanting to sell it back but because I recently bought it, I’m going to take quite an L financially. But weighing the L financially now versus getting into a severe accident (as this definitely can cause) makes more sense.
I do feel that I was duped as buyer because even after alignments, and staying very careful while driving, it happens. I understand that there is more you can do to help the death wobble but I have read countless stories of owners putting thousands into the fix, for it to death wobble only a few weeks later.
And the scary part is you never really know when it is going to happen but you can expect that it will, especially if you hit a bump in the road.
I recently read a story of someone dying from it. It’s messed up.
I know that after this I will never purchase from Jeep again.
That’s my story.
Have two 2019 JL’s. About 15K on both, never been off road, no mods. Wobble on both several occasions. Jeep replaced on steering damper on one, wobble again in just 2 weeks. Waiting for the part for the other which is obviously a waste of time. Are we just stuck with this now? If there’s a class action suit, I’d like to be included.
2020 Jeep Gladiator, 3300 miles – Experienced violent uncontrollable shaking on freeway. No modification, to Gladiator.